Subtle Beauty
We’re now into the back side of Fall… the colors are past their prime, and most of the trees have shed their leafy cloaks. Even so, there is still beauty to be had in nature with her subtle brown tones, intricate patterns and textures of dying seedheads, and brilliant blue skies above. My sister S has a garden that waxes and wanes with the seasons, and at this time of the year it can look a bit tired and messy. In my eyes, though, it has a feeling of quiet and peace and welcomes me in for a rest. I thought you might enjoy a peek.
Unexpected Treasure
This turkey platter is legendary in my family. We’ve pulled it out for Thanksgiving for the past forty-seven years. It’s traveled to Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Georgia, and now resides in my sister’s cabinets. We’ll be filling it up with sliced turkey in the next couple of hours, making fun of it, and telling its tale. What tale? Why, I’m glad you asked.
When I was very small (six or seven years old), my mother innocently took me along on a grocery shopping trip to the local Winn-Dixie. It just so happened that the store was having a giveaway… a locked treasure chest filled with unmarked envelopes holding prizes, one of which happened to be a bicycle. Each customer entering the store was given a small key that would hopefully open the chest. If your key unlocked it, you got to select an envelope.
Lo and behold, I had a winning key!!! You can imagine how excited I was – I could hardly contain myself, because I knew that bike was going to be mine. I opened the chest, reached in, grabbed the lucky envelope and… Wait! Oh No!… A TURKEY PLATTER?… REALLY? What child wants a turkey platter?
I’m told I cried (quite loudly and inconsolably) through the rest of the shopping excursion. To calm me down until we could get home, Mom bought me a bag of Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies, which I chomped on between hiccups and sniffles.
To this day, I love those cookies… and I’ve come to love the turkey platter.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thankful beyond measure!
It’s Prickly Out There
H and I have been in Arizona the past couple of days visiting family, and I am now in awe of the cactus.
Swan Song
One of the things I enjoy about traveling is discovering the differences in the wildlife from place to place, especially the birds. While in Holland a few weeks ago I noticed that the countryside was filled with swans… they were everywhere. I’ve certainly seen these big beautiful birds before, but never in such numbers. This one was quietly floating down a canal along our bike path.
Sugar Overload
Oh My Gosh! Aren’t these cupcakes divine… and so yummmmmy! These little goodies were made by my girlfriend H, who always surprises us with something fun to eat. (She is not to be confused with my husband H, who doesn’t make cupcakes but loves to eat them.)
Window Shopping
I am not a big shopper, but I love looking at the window displays. H and I were recently in Amsterdam visiting family, and I have to say that the storefronts there have the most fabulous presentations. Each window beckons and calls to take a closer look. Here are just a few that caught my attention.
Blackout
I know, I know… these photos are way too dark and grainy, but wait… let me explain.
When H and I ventured to the grocery store this afternoon, a friendly fellow shopper loading her car warned us that the power was out but that the store was still functioning. That was good, because we had stuff to buy!
And so we see H straining to find the pick-a-size paper towels. Without the hum of equipment, it was eerily quiet in the aisles. Clerks armed with flashlights stocked shelves as customers continued to shop. I saw the glow of at least one iPhone illuminating the meat counter. Still, although the conveyor belts didn’t budge, the backup generators kept the registers running, and customers were checking out at a near-normal pace.
Contrary to our initial trepidation, it turned into a great shopping adventure.
Peek-A-Boo
I’m often wowed by the determination of a plant.
Cheap Thrills
What kid (or adult, for that matter) doesn’t love an arcade? It’s filled with vivid colors, crazy sounds, and challenging games of skill and luck. H and I wandered into this one while at Myrtle Beach last week.
Tree Fishing 